Clarion MMA Youth Team Competes At The AGC Tournament In New Kensington (09/10/14)
(By Clarion MMA Coach, Leo LeFay)
Last Saturday (September, 6th), the youth competition team hit the road to represent Clarion MMA at a grappling tournament. The tournament was at Penn State New Kensington and run by the American Grappling Challenge (AGC). There were over two hundred competitors, representing thirty-five different martial arts schools.
(All photos by “Katie Jay” – www.facebook.com/Photography.KatieJ) Front (L-R) Felicia White (Bronze), Jill Winters (Bronze), Robyn Stahlman (Bronze), Haven LeFay (Bronze), Jack Winters (Double Gold), Ashton Rex. Back (L-R) Rachel White, Abby Freeman, Zach Lavin (Bronze Medal), Leo LeFay (Coach), Mike LeFay (Double Gold as teen, Bronze as adult), Joe Winters (Silver and Bronze), Breckin Rex (Double Gold)
We had a dozen kids on the mat and they all did an excellent job. They were divided by age and weight to allow for more even divisions. Each person was allowed to compete in a gi division (wearing a martial arts uniform) and a no-gi division (just shorts and a t-shirt), this allowed two opportunities for medals, one in each division. Mike LeFay was our exception to this, he competed both in the teen expert divisions and for an extra challenge tried the adult intermediate divisions.
Also on the mat we had our biggest kid, Angelo (age 20). In addition to his awesome video camera skills he wanted to represent the team in the gi blue belt open division and expert no-gi open division. He swept through the blue belt open weight division without losing a match. He was finally stopped during the semi-finals of the no-gi expert, open weight division.
Jack Winters maintaining control to secure the victory
I want to extend a special congratulations to Jack Winters. The tournament was held on his ninth birthday. Two gold medals make an awesome present!
(Thanks to Coach LeFay for this article and Katie Jay[www.facebook.com/Photography.KatieJ] for the photos. Congratulations Clarion MMA youth competition team!!!! For more information on Clarion MMA, call 221-0806 or visit their website at www.clarionlinks.com/mma )
Mike LeFay after winning a hard fought match